Images: The Week in Pictures

Ava Boren, 2, gets a hug from her mom Robin Boren after finishing the Naperville Park District's first Junior Tour de Naperville, a 1.2 mile bicycle loop held at Commissioner's Park. Alan Boren, right, jogged the course with daughter Ava.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

Andrew Chun, of Wheeling, walks the path around the Buffalo Creek Reservoir in Buffalo Grove to his favorite spot while his buddy Rodney Hicks, of Palatine, works his artificial bait for small-mouth bass on a beautiful summer day Monday.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Maya Godinez, 10, of Elgin, builds a birdīs nest at the Creek Bend Nature Center in St. Charles. Monday was the first of a five-day nature camp, which allows children to explore the woods and fields of the LeRoy Oaks Forest Preserve. The full-day camp helps the kids discover native animals and plants in their natural habitat, and learn the importance of living things.

Emmalee Luckas | Staff Photographer

Libertyville School Dist. 70 students are participating in summer school classes at Highland Middle and Rockland Schools through July 11. On Monday, fifth-grade-student Amber Tse has fun with friends while working on a ceramics project.

Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

When I photographed Century Oaks students participating in a local park cleanup in Elgin recently, very few kids seemed to take the effort seriously. And since I tend to be fanatical about the environment, I was anxious to see kids embrace the idea of picking up trash to make the neighborhood look better. Enter sixth-grader Madison Kloss. Within just a few minutes of arriving at the park, she already had more junk than she could carry, while other kids were goofing off. I know I would be proud of my daughters for something like this. Maybe Madison's parents can be proud as well. I chose this photo for the weekly Perspective column.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

While covering a girls softball sectional final in Rolling Meadows recently, I was watching the larger jets appear suddenly from a band of low clouds as they approached O'Hare airport for landing. It took a few tries to get a photo that I liked, and shortly afterward the cloud cover changed and fully enveloped the planes. I published this photo in the weekly Perspective column in the print editon.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Bill Casper, a former professional golfer, speaks at Fox Valley Park District's Orchard Valley Golf Course surrounded by First Tee participants after they sung him "Happy Birthday."

Michelle Jay | Staff Photographer

About 120 shoppers stood in line for more than two-hours to purchase official Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup hats at Sports Authority at Randhurst Village in Mount Prospect Tuesday. The store sold out due to staying open until midnight on Monday, and expects more shipments daily.

George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Patrick Ringel gets his playoff beard shaved at Tremonte's Barbershop in Wauconda Tuesday. For a donation of $10 people received a shave, a free 10oz. reusable stadium cup donated by Bulldogs Grill, and a complimentary ticket for a drink from Middleton's. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Wauconda Park District Youth Sports Program.

Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Terry Lynch of Orland Park portrays long time depot employee Joe Charneskey, during "Passport to Folktale around the World" for the Bartlett Depotīs 140th Birthday Bash Thursday. In 1873, Luther and Sophia Bartlett donated a portion of their land to the Chicago & Pacific Railroad, who was building a new rail line from Chicago to Elgin. In June of that year, the villageīs depot was constructed.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Jenna Mattes, 15, of Huntley, attempts to read aloud off her smart phone to Drivers Education teacher Dan Jennings while driving a golf cart through an obstacle course at Huntley High School on Thursday. The school teamed up with State Farm rep Chad Radtke, Huntley Police Department, the Huntley Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Peck Ford of Huntley, to show how dangerous the combination is.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

A gray egret spends a few moments scratching his chin on the bank of the Fox River while in South Elgin Thursday evening.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Dramatic clouds paint a precarious background as kids ride the Fireball at the 2013 Wauconda Fest on Thursday.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Carl Galdine of Wauconda has fun with his son Gavin, 16 months, as the music plays at the 2013 Wauconda Fest on Thursday.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Students make their way around the track during the Eastview Elementary School Fourth of July parade Thursday at Algonquin Middle School in Algonquin.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Four-month-old Mario Ruiz, of Round Lake Beach, has his photo taken with Pixie the Clown during Friday's Beachfest at the Cultural & Civic Center in Round Lake Beach.

Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Cindy Wendt, of West Dundee, grabs an old paper plate out of the Fox River during "Fox River Clean Sweep and Streambank Clean-Up" hosted by State Rep. Keith Farnham, with the help of the Sierra Club Valley of the Fox Water Sentinels, Saturday at Trout Park Rivers Edge in Elgin.

Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Jessica McClure, 6, of Naperville, crosses the finish line during the Naperville Park District's first Junior Tour de Naperville, held at Commissioner's Park. "I've wanted to race my whole life," she said.

Alex Beagles, of Grayslake, rides the Fun Slide with daughters Sophia, 4, and Gabi, 7, during the Grayslake Family Picnic at Central Park in Grayslake Saturday.

JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Cody Thompson, 2, of Geneva, hides from his Grandpa under the Wolf Farms and Green Houses table at the Geneva French Market Sunday. The Wolf Farms and Green Houses, of Eau Claire, Michigan, bring freshly grown produce to the outdoor market.

Emmalee Luckas | Staff Photographer

Brody Velez, 2, of Geneva, reaches out to high five his dad Pete during the final day of Carol Stream's summer carnival at Town Center, Sunday.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Chase Beake, 3, of Round Lake, gets sprayed with a fire hose by his father Richard at the Fox Lake Fireman's Festival Sunday.

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